C/2014 Q3 (Borisov)

For other comets discovered by Gennadiy Borisov, see Comet Borisov (disambiguation).

C/2014 Q3 (Borisov)

NEOWISE image of the comet on 27 November 2014
Discovery
Discovered by	Gennadiy Borisov 0.3 m f/1.5 astrograph (L51)
Discovery date	22 August 2014
Orbital characteristics
Epoch	9 December 2014
Aphelion	55.111 au
Perihelion	1.6474 au (q)
Eccentricity	0.94196
Orbital period	146 years (epoch 2050)
Inclination	89.949°
Last perihelion	19 November 2014
Next perihelion	~2160

C/2014 Q3 (Borisov) is a periodic comet discovered at apparent magnitude 17 on 22 August 2014 by amateur astronomer Gennadiy Borisov using a 0.3-meter (12 in) astrograph. It is the third comet discovered by Borisov. The comet is best viewed from the northern hemisphere.

The comet was expected to reach about magnitude ~11 near perihelion (closest approach to the Sun), but brightened to around magnitude 10. By 8 November 2014, the comet had a declination of +83 and was circumpolar from the northern hemisphere. The comet came to perihelion on 19 November 2014 at a distance of 1.65 au from the Sun.

Before entering the planetary region (epoch 1950), C/2014 Q3 had an orbital period of 148 years. After leaving the planetary region (epoch 2050), it has an orbital period of 146 years.

See also

• List of Halley-type comets
• 2I/Borisov